One-year follow-up of feasibility and safety of the first U.S., randomized, controlled study using 3-dimensional guided catheter-based delivery of autologous skeletal myoblasts for ischemic cardiomyopathy (CAuSMIC study).

Objectives: The aim of this study was to test safety and feasibility of myoblast transplantation with the Biosense-NOGA (Diamond Bar, California) 3-dimensional-guided endomyocardial delivery system.

Background: Previous Phase-1 trials showed feasibility of epicardial injection of myoblasts. However, catheter-based delivery has several advantages: it can be applied on high-risk patients, the procedure can be repeated, and it is associated with less morbidity and mortality.

Tetralogy of Fallot, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and Down's syndrome: a rare and challenging combination.

A case of the combination of tetralogy of Fallot, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and Down's syndrome is reported here and is the first report on the combination of the 3 entities. Tetralogy of Fallot is often associated with chromosomal aberration, while hypertrophic cardiomyopathy associates with certain gene loci. Our experience with treating this patient, although ultimately unsuccessful, may provide useful information in any future cases.

Angiographic demonstration of spontaneous occlusion of systemic arterial supply in pulmonary sequestration.

We describe the first angiographic demonstration of spontaneous occlusion of the arterial supply of a right lower lobe pulmonary sequestration. Intralobar pulmonary sequestration was first diagnosed by cardiac catheterization and aortography in a 1-year-old female. Systemic arterial supply was from a branch of the infra-diaphragmatic aorta and venous drainage was to the left atrium.

Recurrent pulmonary embolism originating from right atrial myxoma.

The use of transesophageal echocardiography is a useful adjunct to transthoracic echocardiography in the diagnosis and management of right atrial tumors in patients who are thought to have idiopathic recurrent pulmonary embolism, especially with suboptimal transthoracic echocardiography studies. We describe a 30-year-old woman with a history of recurrent pulmonary embolism who was admitted for investigation of pleuritic chest pain in whom transesophageal echocardiography played a critical role in the diagnosis and management.

Successful balloon angioplasty of a coarctation in an infant <500 g.

We describe the first successful balloon angioplasty of a coarctation in a 460-g newborn infant with coarctation of the aorta and heart failure. A coronary angioplasty catheter was positioned across the coarctation via a transumbilical approach. The waist of the balloon disappeared on maximal inflation and there was an increase in blood pressure distal to the coarctation and the clinical status improved.